Re: Fastback marketing

["Melissa & Jim" <jadney@vwtype3.org>]

On 29 Jul 97, Everett Barnes wrote:

> >      Everett - It is obvious that the Fastback was marketed as a high 
> >      performance sports car! The aerodynamic shape makes it much faster 
> >      that the Square or Notch. Besides, if you squint (and you haven't had 
> >      your coffee) it looks exactly like a Porsche 911!
> 
> Actually, I believe the drag coefficient of the Squareback is lower,
> allowing my '65 to effectively reverse time.
> 
> I wrote this note yesterday, in fact.

Of course work goes on all the time on aerodynamics, but I remember a 
story from the mid sixties, that came out just as the rear engine 
Lotus/Fords were taking over Indy from the front engine Offenhauser 
roadsters. 

It seems that someone asked what the best possible aerodynamic
shape was.  After some work it was determined that it was 
approximately a cigar shape, but for it to be large enough for a race 
car, it would have to be 40' long.  Of course this leads to the 
obvious followup question, which was "Okay, what is the second best 
shape?"  After more work it was determined that the second best shape 
was just the original cigar shape chopped off square at the desired 
length.

I have never seen any drag coefficients published for our cars, but 
if there is any truth in the story above, then it supports Everett's 
claim above.

For what it's worth, I HAVE seen published explainations that the 
spoilers on the rear of race cars are there to force a high pressure 
region over the tapering rear of the car where, without the spoiler, 
a low pressure area would develop and lead to large amounts of vortex 
shedding and consequent energy loss (drag.)

I think this just another example of something that is OBVIOUSLY true 
turning out not to be true at all.

Personally, I go for the utility and careful engineering.  Perhaps I 
will buy a sports car someday.  If so, it will have to be something 
other than a type III.  Don't get me wrong; I love all my type IIIs, 
but the only way you could confuse them with sports cars is if 
you've never seen a Lotus Super Seven.

Jim
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       Melissa Kepner                                    Jim Adney
       jadney@vwtype3.org              jadney@vwtype3.org
                             Laura Kepner-Adney
                             Madison, Wisconsin
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